General News of Friday, 13 July 2001

Source: GNA

NPP congress ends in confusion

The Jomoro Constituency New Patriotic Party (NPP) congress convened to elect new executives ended in confusion at Half Assini on Wednesday.

The confusion broke out when Mr George Offoegbu, Second Vice Regional Chairman, attempted to screen the delegates with a list allegedly compiled by Mr S. A. Blay, Interim Constituency Chairman, who was contesting for the post with Mr Francis Nyamea, a businessman.

Supporters of Mr Nyamea protested against the use of the list claiming that it contained names of people, who were not the accredited chairmen and secretaries of polling station branches.

They insisted that the Regional Executive, including Mr Offoegbu, Mr Francis Quansah, Regional Secretary and Mr Kodwo Acuah, Regional Organiser, who were to supervise the election, should use a list compiled before the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The other faction mostly from Half Assini, however, insisted that the new list allegedly compiled by Mr Blay should be used for the voting. The argument became rowdy.

When it became evident that the rowdy scene could not be brought under control, Mr Offoegbu called off the elections.

He said the Regional Executive would go round the 151 polling stations in the constituency together with a representative each of Mr Blay and Mr Nyamea to compile a genuine list for the election at a later date.

The congress formed part of a series being organised by the Western Regional Secretariat of the party to elect new constituency executives prior to a regional congress scheduled for Asankrangwa in August.